Twelve Monkeys (1995)

 129 min  - R Mystery | Sci-Fi | 

Thriller  

Bruce Willis: James ColeMadeline Stowe: Kathryn

RaillyBrad Pitt: Jeffrey Goines

“The Future is History”—Plot Summary• An unknown and lethal virus has wiped out five

billion people in 1996. • Only 1% of the population has survived by the

year 2035, and is forced to live underground. • A convict (James Cole) reluctantly

volunteers to be sent back in time to 1996 to gather information about the origin of the epidemic (who he's told was spread by a mysterious "Army of the Twelve Monkeys") and locate the virus before it mutates so that scientists can study it.

• Unfortunately Cole is mistakenly sent to 1990, six years earlier than expected, and is arrested and locked up in a mental institution, where he meets Dr. Kathryn Railly, a psychiatrist, and Jeffrey Goines, the insane son of a famous scientist and virus expert.

12 Monkeys Film Analysis One-Pager

• Why?– To assess your story analysis and writing skills

at the beginning of the semester so I can plan writing instruction

• What?– Watch the film actively. Think about it.– Write a one-page, thesis-driven, analytical

response to one of the prompts and submit it to turnitin.com by Wednesday, 2/4, by 9:55 A.M.

• What will be graded?– Only your one-pager: a typed, double-spaced,

final draft submitted electronically

Differentiated Instruction• Standard and Challenge options for

some assignments, because we’re all on a different language arts journey here

• You are graded on the same rubric with both levels of instruction

• You don’t get a grade bonus for doing the challenge option other than an opportunity to synthesize, rather than just analyze, a text resulting in greater college readiness

Standard Options:• 12 Monkeys presents a bleak future in the

wake of a mortal plague. What dystopian elements do identify as infecting society before the plague and what dystopian elements result after society’s degradation?

• Cole’s challenge is not to save the world. What are the dystopian challenges Gilliam presents Cole with? Is he a hero in this dystopian film? Why or why not?

• Analyze and discuss the ways that Gilliam uses the theme of environmentalism in 12 Monkeys.

Challenge Options:• Compare the plight James Cole of with that of

the Greek myth of Cassandra. (Cite the valid sources you use to familiarize yourself with the myth.) How are they similar and different? What does Gilliam say with the film 12 Monkeys about the value of prophesy?

• Philosopher/historian Michael Foucault has a renowned theory (Madness and Civilization: A History of Insanity in the Age of Reason) that affixing the label of insanity to someone is a political power play, not a medical diagnosis. What is Gilliam saying about sanity and insanity through 12 Monkeys?

Writing Reflection Objectives

• Track patterns in your writing assessment

• Use data:–To set realistic writing improvement goals–To inform instructional decisions

• Strategize about methods you will use to improve your writing

End-of-film Discussion • Are humans “the next endangered

species?”–What elements of dystopia before the

plague are dominant? After the plague?• What storylines have resolution?

Which storylines do not and why?• What elements of dystopia do we see

in specific plot points of this film?

Prior Semesters’ One-pager IssuesAnd, in red, the ways to fix them

• Your essay should have a title– Topic: Interesting Phrase– Ex: In Time: The Currency of Youth

• You should write a thesis-driven response to the prompt– HOW + WHAT = SO-WHAT– LITERARY OR CINEMATIC CONVENTION+ BIG IDEA=

RESULTING IN WHAT?• No need for a full paper heading (waste of space)

– MLA header and page number in upper-right corner, only

• Film titles are italicized in MLA format and are proper nouns- hence, capitalization– Check Bacon’s MLA website if you need to confirm

Prior Semesters’ One-pager IssuesAnd, in red, the ways to fix them

• Comma usage is a real problem– Edit! Revise! Have other educated (graduated!!!) adults edit

too• No rhetorical questions as hooks (boooring)

– Use quotes, fun facts, expert opinions, statistics, etc. …• Conference on your thesis and outline, people. 

– Make an appointment for an office-hours conference. I’ll tell you if your writing is on its way or not …

• Never cite your former teachers unless they originally published the idea– Cite the original source. Use the internet to confirm if you’re

in doubt.• Post-apocalyptic is hyphenated, as is any two-word

hyphenated phrase– “Pre-college writing” or “Post-lunch nap” are other examples.

Reflecting on Formal Writing• For a participation grade, by ________:– Log in to turnitin.com and read the feedback that I

gave you on your writing• I can tell if you did or didn’t, and will check at 10:30

A.M. tomorrow to award points to those who did – On the back of your rubric, write a reflection

including the following bullet points:• One thing you feel you did well on based on my feedback• Two specific, measurable goals about how you want to

improve on your writing. – “By the end of first semester I want to earn a 9/10 on my thesis

statements.”– “By the end of first semester I want to improve one full point in

my organization and style category.”• A plan for how you’ll achieve those goals. • 2 points of extra credit if a parent or guardian also

comments on your goals and reflection and signs the rubric.